It’s no secret that the pandemic hit the travel and hospitality industries hard, and we’ve talked before about how the events industry has had to adapt to economic challenges. But in the years since COVID and amid the cost-of-living crisis, UK businesses have shown resilience and have been steadily recovering. We’re proud to say Eastside Rooms is one of them: we’re celebrating bouncing back with some big wins.
We’ve seen some incredible growth in the association sector, with a whopping 37.5% increase in turnover for 2024. Last year, we hosted association events that generated £1.6 million, but this year, that number has soared to £2.2 million – a testament to our growing reputation as Birmingham’s go-to venue for professional conferences.
And the momentum isn’t stopping there, we’ve already secured £1.9 million worth of association events for 2025, and we’re confident that next year will be even bigger.
Understanding the Association Sector
So, what’s driving this success? A big part of it comes down to our dedication to understanding the unique needs of Professional Conference Organisers (PCOs) and making sure our venue delivers exactly what they’re looking for. Our state-of-the-art technology, accessible rooms, flexible meeting spaces and prime location in Birmingham give us an edge (take a look at our conference brochure here), but it’s our commitment to sustainability and creating tailored experiences that really set us apart.
We’ve also made sure to align ourselves with key industry players by becoming members of organisations like the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) and the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). Working closely with a specialist association representation company and a PR agency has helped us get the word out to the right people and grow our presence in the association world.
This focus has led to some amazing wins for us recently. We’ve had the pleasure of working with organisations including:
- Association of Project Management
- American Society of Mechanical Engineering
- Chartered Institute of Water & Environmental Management
- Women’s Engineering Society
- British Society for Intraoperative Neurophysiology
- Association of Bid Proposal Management Professionals
- British and Irish Association of Law Librarians
What’s more, we’re also set to host ABPCO’s flagship Festival of Learning in 2025. We can’t wait to welcome industry professionals to Birmingham for this landmark event!
At the heart of all this is our incredible team, who work tirelessly to ensure we deliver top-notch service and facilities for every event.